When are certain players in the NFL going to learn from their own antics? I noticed two players, one from each match up on Sunday in the championship games, for whom their actions were more important then their own team. Not sure how long now that every time a player gets a first down in football, they have to point that out before the referee calls it while doing their own version of the signal. The celebrations in the end zone after scoring a touchdown or the defense getting a turnover are now choreographed by the offense or the defense. Does each team get time to work on these dances or theatrics in between game film and practice? Some could be improv. These things are part of the game now, compared to when I remember Walter Payton scoring a touchdown and handing the ball to the referee. He’s been there before, not his first or last rodeo. The actions of players that need attention need the spot light. Like we need football to turn into the WWF, a time to trash talk and taunt the other team as if, “Look at me, I made a play.” These taunts or trash talking can come back and burn their team. The game could suddenly change momentum and the taunter may end up with egg on his face. What about knowing the score of the game? Zay Flowers of the Ravens pushed his defender to the ground getting up & then spun the ball after a 54 yard catch. Seems to me the Ravens were losing at that point, 17-7, in the second half. Then the Lions defensive back, C.J Gardner-Johnson, was waving to the 49er fans in the second quarter with the Lions up 24-7. Someone should inform him they usually play another half as that lead we know, did not hold up.

Big Play Zay, a rookie wide receiver, led the Ravens in receiving yards in the AFC Championship. Zay Flowers could tell his kids or maybe his grandchildren how he came close to playing in a Superbowl. The Ravens defense gave up 17 points to the Kansas City Chiefs. All the points were scored in the first half. The Ravens only needed to score ten points to tie the game. When Flowers was tackled by L’Jarius Sneed at the ten yard line, the Ravens were in business. The call for taunting sent the Ravens back to the 25 yard line. Had to show up Sneed with spinning the ball because he made that catch. He did his job, so he needed that special attention. The Ravens got back in the red zone with another pass and completion to Flowers. Looked like the Ravens would be okay. Then another pass to Flowers, he caught the ball and tried to dive for pay dirt right in front of the goal line. At the same time, his buddy Sneed on Kansas City flipped the script and knocked the ball out of Flowers’ hands as he was close to getting the ball over the goal line. The ball was recovered by the Chiefs for a touch back in the end zone. How do you feel now, Big Play Zay? Instead of making the game either 17-10 or 17-14 and changing the momentum in favor of the Ravens, Flowers’ antics cost the team points. When you taunt someone they would surely like to repay you, and Sneed did it on the field. Then Flowers makes a total arse of himself as he already was a colossal ASS. Throws a tantrum on the side line, whacks his hand on the bench, & then suffered a boo boo on his hand.

C.J Gardner Johnson is one of those league leaders in trash talking. You can say sometimes his trash talk can get in the opponent’s head. Like how Dennis Rodman got into people’s heads on the hard wood in the NBA. Some players would lose focus on their own game and want to settle their personal vendetta and cost their own team just to satisfy their own lust for revenge. I saw this with the Bears receivers when Gardner Johnson was on the Saints. Bears players punched Gardner Johnson and were flagged for penalties. This go around besides trash talking with 49ers wide receiver, Deebo Samuels, calling him only a running back because he can’t run routes. The waving at the crowd was when Gardner Johnson thought the Lions had the game on ice and were headed to the Superbowl without playing the second half. Again antics, look at me kind of the deal. Easy bulletin board material for the other team. What happens next was the 49ers steamrolled the Lions in the second half. Which resulted in egg on Gardner-Johnson who some believe will be looking to play for another team as he seems a guy well traveled in the NFL. I wonder why? 

The Ravens and the Lions lost the championships for many reasons, not just because of the two that made themselves bigger than the team. Lamar Jackson was terrible. His bone headed turnovers, taking sacks, and dancing around instead of just taking off for the first down marker on a few plays did not help. The Lions gambling on 4th down instead of taking a chance to extend the lead with two field goal attempts. The Lions had some key dropped passes. If you want to beat teams like the Chiefs and 49ers who visit the Superbowls often, you need a perfect game. You can’t give them extra motivation in big games like that. Then Joe Burrow threw his two cents into the topic of taunting. Let’s remember Burrow and his trash talking Bengals have not won a Superbowl. The Bengals are trash on the field and in social media more than any other team in the league. They keep telling the world they are better then everyone. Burrow says taunting should not be called in professional football because it’s not a kids’ game. The word “professional,” Burrow may not quite know the meaning of it. When defensive end Maxx Crosby does his Hacksaw Jim Duggan taunting act and hits Burrow over the head with a 2×4 after sack and a dance, it’s just taunting & no big deal. That’s what we need… more delayed football for dancing. Maybe we should not even watch football and go with Dancing with the Stars as our next program. Celebrate after the game when the scoreboard is final. Have your cigars & say anything you feel like. Go on twitter and butcher up the English language with wrestling taunts. That damn spell check gets me every time.